Chapman's Ice Cream is set to grow in the new year.
The Markdale business is preparing for its largest expansion in history, with the development of the Phoenix 3 facility.
Ashley Chapman, the company's COO, says its a vote of confidence in the region.
"It's our biggest build ever, including back in 2010 when we started on Phoenix 1 after our fire," said Chapman. "That facility was about 165,000 square feet and this new one is about 175,000, so we're betting big on Canada."
Chapman said the expansion would employ 150 to 200 new workers when it is complete. He added that the new facility would also allow for some exciting products down the line.
"We should have all the factory up and running and all of the lines going by early 2026, hopefully before the end of the first quarter," he said. "We're not going to plan too many crazy things, we just want to get it up and rolling first. But the 2027 season, you're going to see quite a lot of new things from Chapman's Ice Cream."
However, Chapman's does have some new releases in 2025.
Chapman said while he couldn't reveal all the new flavours they had planned, one was too exciting to keep under wraps.
"We are launching, in our Super Premium line, a butter tart flavour," he shared. "I think we've actually hit the nail right on the head, it's an amazing flavour and it tastes exactly like a raisin butter tart."